GEEKEPEDIA: ROBOCOP IN OTHER MEDIA

The first film (1987) is a classic but the franchise soon suffered from declining returns, both at the cinema (the first sequel fails to live up to the promise of the first despite boasting a writing credit by acclaimed comic book scribe Frank Miller while the second is obviously the first stage in repositioning the character on a more family-friendly footing) and on television.

Marvel produced and aired an animated version of the character as part of its' MARVEL ACTION UNIVERSE (1988) syndicated anthology, clocking-up twelve episodes. All the elements, albeit much toned-down, from the first movie are included and nobody seemed too concerned that kids were being handed an easy stepping-stone to a violent adult movie (although this was nothing new: the decade had already spawned a RAMBO animated show for Saturday mornings). Marvel also produced a comic book version but this was based on the universe of the feature film rather than a direct adaptation of the animated fare.

A decade later, a forty episode animated series, ROBOCOP: ALPHA COMMANDO, was unleashed. The show has the distinction of being the last production from MGM's animation division.

Following a long-trod path, theatrical failure did not stand in the way of further small-screen efforts (especially when the costume, and the cars, were already paid for). A 22-episode weekly series which is, suprisingly, better than it deserves to be, was aired during 1994. The show demonstrates a nice line in satire and black humour (“Italian government falls after 10 minutes in office.” “New language laws in France: Speak English and go to jail!”) in keeping with the movies.

Despite being filmed in Canada (production is cheaper in “North Hollywood”), per-episode budgets were still said to be in the region of $1.2 - $1.5 million. The feature-length opening episode was based on a rejected story line for the third feature film. Despite its' high-profile origins, the show was largely overlooked at the time of its' release and things haven't changed since, despite a priced-to-go DVD release here in the UK. It remains something of an undiscovered telefantasy secret.

Four TV movies (DARK JUSTICE, MELTDOWN, RESURECTION and CRASH AND BURN), known collectively as ROBOCOP: PRIME DIRECTIVES, appeared in 2000. These were produced by the production company as one final roll-of-the-dice before the television rights reverted to MGM. The mini-series is set ten years after the original film and while it lifts footage from the TV series (and the first film by virtue of footage from it having been used in the TV show), it ignores the continuity of the theatrical sequels and the weekly series. These can be found very cheaply on DVD if you shop around including a bargain-priced four movie/ two DVD budget release from Prism Leisure. Our copy cost us the princely sum of £2. That's a steal!

All three movies (1987, 1990 and 1993) are available in one box set (albeit only the first one with an extras). The animated series is available minus all its' MARVEL ACTION UNIVERSE branding (initially as a cheap'n'cheerful single disc partial collection, later superceded by the whole series). The four TV movies are available in various formats (see above) and the complete TV series is also available, minus any extras (and watch out for the inexplicable Light Sabre sound effect on the opening menu).

ESSENTIALS -
The first movie (of course).
ROBO-COP Vs. COMMANDER CASH is a biting satire (in the spirit of the original movie) on marketing to children and well worth a look. Keep an eye on Cash's sidekick, Major Marketing.
RoboCop fights feminism, cross-dressing and the odd (alleged) lesbian (“civilisation as we know it is at an end”) in SISTERS IN CRIME.

COMIC BOOKS
In addition to his small-screen spin-offs (two animated, two live-action), RoboCop has also enjoyed a spin-off career in comicbook law enforcement.

Marvel kicked things off with a black and white magazine adaptation (suitably toned-down for news stands) of the first movie (later published again, this time in colour) followed by an original monthly series running to 23 issues. British creators proved to be mainstays of the title: JUDGE DREDD scribe Alan Grant was the no-brainer writer (art chores by Lee Sulivan art throughout save the occasional fill-in) on the first year before Transformers legend Simon Furman added a third mechanoid (after the warring robots and freelance bounty hunter DEATH'S HEAD) to his CV.

In the UK, the movie adaptation was released as a one-shot special and then serialised in the 'mature readers' Punisher title (along with the Marvel universe hard-man and Vietnam 'drama' THE 'NAM, partial inspiration for New World Television's TOUR OF DUTY). The original strips were given a brief outing in the weekly HAVOC (along with Ghost Rider, Conan and others) in a final attempt to create a newsagent-friendly anthology weekly. The experiment (probably only a placeholder for the Marvel's upcoming OVERKILL weekly) proved something of a failure and disappeared without trace (or any resolution to any of the strips) after a mere 9 weeks.

The license passed from Marvel to Dark Horse who, amongst several mini-series, teamed RoboCop with the TERMINATOR (another licensed title in their rosta for a four-issue slug-fest). Other Dark Horse entries were Prime Suspect (4 issues), Mortal Coils (4 issues), Roulette (4 issues) and an adaptation of the second movie (3 issues).

More recently (Dark Horse relinquished the rights in 1994), the license has transferred again, this time to Avatar Press. Amongst their offerings has been one, by Frank Miller, based on a rejected story line for the second movie.